Calatrava's new Dallas bridge further troubled due to cable flaws

The pedestrian and bicycle deck of the new Margaret McDermott Bridge remains closed for more safety inspections. Photo: Daxis/Flickr

The Margaret McDermott Bridge was supposed to be open to pedestrians and bicyclists by now, but the arches over the Trinity River remain closed partially over concerns about broken cables.

The issue centers around problems with the cables -- and their resistance to heavy winds -- that connect the arch to the base of the Dallas bridge, which was designed by famed architect Santiago Calatrava and his firm.
— Dallas News

"City officials are hoping to open the bridge to pedestrians and cyclists in March," Dallas News writes. Meanwhile the finger-pointing between TxDOT, city officials, and the architect is in full swing.

Sounds like another case of value engineering. Calatrava may be getting a bad rap here, especially since he is an easy target.

In a bid to save as much money as possible, the construction contractors and city of Dallas worked out an agreement to skip stress testing for the design, which would have spotted the vulnerability earlier. The use of smaller, cheaper adjustment rods, has led to the cables vibrating in the intense wind over the river, and both the walking and bike paths remain closed since the bridge’s completion.